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Participating Frequently
January 5, 2025
Question

Installing In Design on a new computer and getting all my old work onto it

  • January 5, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 1066 views

Hi, recently I bought a new computer and when I try to install In Design it says I need to pay again. But I am already paying $$$ a month for it. How do I access my old account on my new computer? And when I do get In Design on my new computer, how do I get all my old work on it?

Best,

Catherine Mullins

3 replies

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 5, 2025

The info already posted is correct, but something is strange. When I activate a different (third) system, I get a dialog box asking me what device I want to deactivate. Are you sure you are logging in with the same Adobe account?

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 6, 2025
quote

The info already posted is correct, but something is strange. When I activate a different (third) system, I get a dialog box asking me what device I want to deactivate. Are you sure you are logging in with the same Adobe account?

 


By @Dave Creamer of IDEAS

I wonder that, too. When I check my products pane I see my CC subscription listed with a serial number which implies that @CatherineMullins is logged in with a different ID than the one to which the subscription is registered.

Randy Hagan
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 5, 2025

It's a pretty straightforward process to activate/deactivate devices through your Creative Cloud desktop application.:

 

1. Open your Adobe Creative Cloud application. When the application window appears, click on the Manage Account link under the account name as shown below.

 

 

2. This opens a web page on your default browser. In the pull-down menus at the top of the page, first select the Plans & Pricing pull-down menu, then the Activated Devices command in the pull-down menu, as illustrated below.

 

 

This opens a list of your activated devices to use Creative Cloud, as seen in the image below.

 

 

Note that in the lead paragraph it says you can only activate two devices. From here it's easy to choose which systems you do/do not want to be running Creative Cloud applications. Eliminate the old computer, make sure the new computer is showing, then return to your new system. You should be able to use your installed Creative Cloud applications in the future.

 

From this point, it's simply a matter of using your local network or an external drive (a.k.a. Sneakernet) to 1) find all your old work files on your old computer and then 2) copy/transfer those old work files from your old computer to your new one. That's going to be as easy or as hard as your old computer's filing system makes the job. If it's hard to find all the old files on your old computer, this might be the perfect opportunity to set up a better file system that will serve you well on your new one.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Randy

Participating Frequently
January 6, 2025

Thank you so much! This was really helpful. I am very new to Adobe and Creative Cloud and so the screenshots really helped. That being said, I keep getting this screen when I try to view my products. 

Do I need a code from when I bought In Design a few years ago? Or is this just because I haven't activated my current device yet? And how do I activate my current device? 

Best,

Catherine

Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Community Manager
January 6, 2025

Hi Catherine,

 

Thank you for providing more context!
I recommend checking the "Activated Devices" tab instead of the "Product" tab there in the screenshot or on Adobe Account.
1. Log into Your Adobe Account
 - Go to Adobe Account and sign in using your Adobe ID.
2. Access Activated Devices
 - Navigate to the "Plans and payment > Activated devices" section (on top menu section) of your account.
 - This will show a list of devices currently linked to your Adobe subscription.
3. If your old computer is still listed as an active device, you can deactivate it from here. This will free up a spot for your new computer.
4. After deactivating, follow the instructions shared by the expert in your previous message to activate and use InDesign on your new computer.

 

Let us know if you face any issues with this process!

 

Best,
Abhishek

Willi Adelberger
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 5, 2025

Deactivate your subscription on the old computer and a activate it on the new ons. 
you can activate simultaneously on 2 computers. If you cannot activate one more, so if is activated on 2 computers.